My brain is officially MUSH

First day back was actually a good one but I was feeling pretty messed up. Good thing my kids just wanted to give me love all day! It is humid as all hell outside but rainy season is over (or should be). As Cam reminded me today the cicadas are out which is the signal of its ending. I LOVE the sound of the cicadas in the trees for some reason it just reminds me of crickets in the summer back in Canada. However the cicadas are much bigger and if you look up in the trees there are soooooo many! Their hum lulls me to sleep at night though. Hopefully it will be that way tonight because if I don't get a good night sleep and get over this freakin jet lag I'm gonna hurt somebody!

It's fawkin 430am what are you doing right now?

Going to Canada I had very little jet lag. I was up early in the mornings but I'm talking 8 or 9am early. My eyes popped open at 415am this morning!!! I've tried to go back to sleep but my bod just isn't having it! So I've got some coffee brewing and I guess I'll have a nice long 4hrs to get ready for work! I'm going to be so brain dead today it isn't funny. I was looking in my fridge and all I have is 2 bottles of water and some frozen fruit. Guess I should hit the supermarket today too. Here are some photos of my last night in Ottawa with my family and some photos of the Canadian Rocky Mountains from my flight to Vancouver. I'm going to bash my head against the wall and see if I can wake up fully :)

Home again..

After pretty much the longest flight in the history of EVER I am home. It is hot as hell, I feel like ass...and I'm going to bed!

Last post from Canada

I'm still in shock that my time here in Canada is pretty much over. Tomorrow morning at 8am I'll be back on a plane to Korea. I have mixed feelings about going back. I love Korea and my kids and my life there but being with family and my friends has been really awesome.

Yesturday was just packed with activities. The day started off with my mom and I going to eat some Pho. For those not familiar it is pretty much the best freakin soup in the world. Sollongtang being the absolute best! My mom ate with chopsticks for the first time! I'm so proud :) She then took me to the mall where I proceeded to buy more clothes. This morning I have to pack and I think I went a little too crazy with the shopping. I have two large EMPTY suitcases and I'm not even sure everything will fit!

We then went over to visit with an aunt I had yet to see. I made a new friend there named Becky. She was only there for an hour or so (my aunt babysits) but it was long enough to make me miss my kiddies in Seoul! Then we ate yummy Chinese food! My mom and I left and headed over to the club at the golf course to meet my dad for a drink. My parent's friends were there and it was nice to see them all again. After a drink I then drove over to Jen and Dave's for one last time to hang and say goodbye. Jenny, thanks again for the bag of goodies you put together for me I love you xoxo. I was sad because due to circumstances I did not get to say goodbye to Andree face to face. Our last time together was our day in the hospital!



Tonight my brother and his girlfriend are coming for a bbq and then sleep and up to go to the airport. So catch you all when I'm back in the East! xoxoxo

Things I will miss about Canada

1. My family and friends
2. Wide open spaces
3. Selection (for food,clothing, and beverages)
4. DRIVING! (I could do it in Seoul but um..no)
5. My VERY LARGE bed
6. My bathtub
7. Drinking clean water from the tap
8. Blue skies
9. English TV
10. Swiss Chalet Sauce
11. Real Canadian bacon

Almost over :(

I can't believe that in less than two days I'll be back on a plane heading back to my apartment in Seoul. Two weeks just was NOT long enough to see everyone I wanted to and do everything I wanted to do. I am feeling much better then the last time I posted though so I'm happy about that. The next two days are going to be so busy I'm hoping I can find a moment to relax in the backyard with a beer one last time! I have some good memories to take back with me.

Definitely not how I planned to spend a day of my vacation

Monday night I went over to Andree's for our last real girl night before my return to Seoul. We had a good time! I brought kits to make lotus laterns that I was given at the Latern Festival back in April. I thought we did a rockin job and now she'll have a little piece of Seoul in her home.

Some of you may not know but I suffer from Asthma. My chest and lungs have been bothering me for a few days but nothing I felt was overly serious. I woke up yesturday morning at Andree's and knew I had a problem. We couldn't reach any of my family members and her boyfriend had their car at work..things were getting bad so we had to 911 it. So paramedics came and took me away on a stretcher to the hospital. Thankfully Andree came with me! Good thing I always have my camera on hand to capture these moments. Why is it that everytime you have to go to the hospital you look like shit? I had just gotten out of bed and hadn't even brushed my hair or anything yet! They did some intense testing and gave me a ton of medication. The doctor wanted to admit me for 3 days! I've had attacks before and have never had to be admitted. If I had of stayed it would have meant the last 3 days in Canada I had would be ruined and I JUST wasn't down with that idea. So I was released but with lots of medication and I am still having problems and have to just rest and not really do much of anything. I get to see my family though so that's good. Not how I wanted to spend the last few days of my vacation but what can you do?

I have to leave Canada in 5 1/2 days..poo

BBQ goodness

Yesturday started early and ended late! I got up and my entire family headed over to the golf course to have breakfast before my dad and uncles played their round. We later went to my aunt's for a bbq to celebrate 5 birthdays and my homecoming. It was really great to have everyone there especially since it had been so long since I'd seen everyone in the same spot! We played lawn bowling, tennis, drank, drank some more, ate delicious food, drank, and played some pool. There were a bazillion photos taken of our good time. All us "kids" were forced to pose in some really lame positions so we inturn inflicted the same torture on the adults. Some how some pants came off and shirts were exchanged..sounds just like how our other family events play out! After we were partied out I headed over to Mark's to watch UFC. Today we are hitting the downtown area and then going to see Pirates of the Caribbean and we're going to eat some Chinese food. I'm pretty much stoked!

mmmmmmm meat I'm eyeing the tennis courts with excitment

My cousin is a hairy beast
Me and moms
My dad is the lawnbowling champion
Who's lame idea was it to get us to pose this way?
Pay back is you guys have to pose like someone just scored a goal!

some photos from this past week I haven't posted yet...


My first rootbeer in a year! I'm not looking so fresh after 22hrs of traveling!

Super Dave and me

Me and moms

Me and my bro

Mark and Cheryl

I seriously love seeing blue sky and feeling UV rays penetrating my skin!

I love my aunts and uncles

Around and stuff..

Today was a busy day. I met up with Andree for lunch, which was delicious! We went back to her place for a bit then I came home. My family drove up from Boston, because I'm so special, to visit for the weekend. We had some drinks and a bbq then headed downtown. There was some light and sound show going on at the Parliment Buildings so we checked it out. It was pretty cool actually, if you live in Ottawa check it out. Then we walked around the market area and headed home. I'm totally beat! The weekend will be spent with my family doing various things, mostly drinking probably, and hopefully a little relax time!

Fun Times..

Yesturday I spent a fun filled day in the sun with my bro Mark. We went all over the place then we hit the beach and the bowling alley. We both suck at bowling but we had the best time! I'm not sure the last time I ever went bowling. After four fun filled games, we went back to his place to enjoy the aircon. I'm still not over the novelty of so many English television choices. He cooked me a yummy dinner and we had a nice low key evening. I LOVE being home with my family I can't believe my first week here is almost over :( Tonight I'm going to Jen's work to have my hair coloured. It is going to be so fantastic having my hair done the exact way I want it!

Chillin with Andree

So one of my bestest buds here in Ottawa is my friend Andree. We have a lot of connections and things in common that are slightly eeerie. We made Monday our girls only day and we did all the girlie things we could. Shopping was the big thing. We went from mall to mall across the city collecting bags and bags of goodness. We stopped and ate the best breakfast I've had since Christmas at Rl's. We then finally made our way to her house where we had some drinks and some all night story telling and catching up. It was such a great day :) There was a crazy storm in the evening and I caught some photos of the clouds and sky. My photos don't do it justice but it was cool. Today I am spending with my brother. We are probably going to drive to the Hershey Chocolate factory and get some yummies,or we're going watersliding..not sure yet. It will be awesome though!

Who can spend 1200 dollars in 2hrs on clothes? Me..I can and I did and I'm soooo happy I could cry! Malls..are good. Also my area of Canada was smacked with the worst storm in the history of ever! Or so the news is making it seem. Andree and I watched the coolest weather I've ever seen from her balcony. I have some cool pics that will follow when I'm not sooo busy having the best time in Canada!!

The grass between my toes

Yesturday was so awesome and such a good time! I woke up ridiculously early and my mom and I had breakfast together. I really missed doing that! Having packed next to nothing we went and did a little bit of shopping so I could get some pants! Moms took me to the giant sized super store to do some grocery shopping. I had to fight the urge to run and skip and yell up and down the enormously spacious isles. I bought 3 bags of stuff to take back to Seoul with me!

We came home and mom started getting things ready for our big turkey feast. I spent the afternoon in the backyard soaking up the sun and drinking! The self portraits started and I think my family thinks I am officially a camera happy freak! Which is pretty much true. My brother and his gf came over and then Jen and Dave and Andree and Matt. We got pretty loaded up..or should I say I did! Then we went inside for what was pretty much the best meal of my entire life. The turkey was so amazing it almost hurt me to eat it!

We sat around laughing and telling jokes ahhh it was so fantastic! My mom bought these alphabet pretzles so Jen and I thought of a dirty word for every letter we picked out of the bowl. Jen decided to spell out my name and proceed to tell me how dirty I am. Come to think of it I am pretty dirty ;) We all went over to my bros after for some herbal refreshments. It was a beautiful end to a beautiful day. Today I am driving over to meet Andree and we are going to shop till we fall over. I love Canada!!!

Clean air and being in Canada is good

Well after a Saturday that seemed to last for 36 hrs! I finally made it home :) I'm still suffering from scensory overload at the moment but it didn't stop me from enjoying a hot cup of Tim Hortons coffee and an icey cold rootbeer. Today my mom is cooking a huge turkey dinner with all of the trimmings. I'm a little bit excited..mmmmmm turkey! Here are some photos starting at Incheon Airport all the way to my home town of Ottawa, Canada :)Suprisingly I don't feel too jetlagged perhaps it will smack me in the face later today.

Last post before Canada!!!

Well I can actually say I'm leaving tomorrow!!! I just finished having dinner and some beers with the ladies and I'm now sitting in my apartment not really sure where to start! I have everything taken care of and I just finished taking care of the last e-mail I had to send for our trip to North Korea in September. It is paid for and everything is set! Now it's just finish packing, wash some dishes, wash the floors, clean up, sleep, then get up get ready and GO!!!!!!! Here are my last photos for a few weeks (well from Seoul anyway!). They are certainly sweaty ones! I get to hug my family tomorrow I am beyond stoked!!!!!!!!!!!

2 more sleeps

I just spent the last 4 hours strolling through Insadong with Jenny. We were both so sweaty, we sought refuge in any shop that had any sorce of air conditioning. I finished up my shopping for home..I got all of the gifts I needed to get. I even found one for my dad that I always thought if I saw I would buy..I can't believe I found it! Only one more day and two sleeps to go until I get on that plane and get the hell outta here for a few weeks!! yiipppeee!!!

I'm so excited..and I just can't hide it..I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!!!

I pulled out the suitcases after a year of being covered so they looked like a piece of furniture. I'm terrible at packing because I like to leave everything until the last minute. However, I'm meeting the ladies on Friday night for some delicious meat and beer so I'm guessing I won't want to do much packing when I get home. I have one suitcase finished. Seriously though...I don't want to pack hardly anything so I can buy all new stuff when I get home. I might just have to find some old boots or tires to throw in my suitcases so the people at customs don't wonder why I'm going home with two huge empty suitcases. How am I ever going to sleep with all the thoughts of what fun things I will do when I get home floating through my head!!!!

The rain has been nuts the last few days and the humidity is at 92% today. It is so sticky and so hot and so wet I can't take much more of this!!! 3 more sleeps then Canada. I hope the weather is better than here!

OMG

Well I did play pool on Friday night. Rachel Lynn took these OH SO spectacular photos of me in the action. I guess I got bored and thought laying on the pool table was a much better idea! She has some pretty hysterical photos on her blog you should check em out!



Notice how Linda goes right for my boob? She's such a perv!

Talking to old friends is good!

I just spent the last little while chatting with one of the most awesome people I have ever known, Tracy. She and I met the last time I lived in Korea and we bonded like super glue to skin. We have the same birthday and so many other things in common you'd think we've known each other forever. She's moving back to Asia and I am soooo stoked about it. She's moving to HK but that might turn into Seoul soon enough. We'd always talked about another year together and perhaps it may happen yet ;) I love that girl she brings me comfort like a warm blanket on a cold day.

This time next week..

This time next week I'll be home in Canada. I really miss my family and I can't wait to see them again. My mom sent me these photos of my brother and I as babies. It's funny because Thursday I had all of my kids bring in baby photos of themselves because we are doing a unit on how we grow and change. I loved seeing pics of my kids when they were babies and they really wanted to see what I looked like. So now I have something to show them on Monday. Thanks for those mom, I can't wait to see you next weekend! You too Mark although seriously I was soo much cuter ;)

Happy Birthday Beaker!

I had not intended to go out this weekend. I wanted to stay home and get things around my house taken care of before I leave for Canada next week. Last night was a dinner at a local galbi joint for Beaker's birthday (how old are you 19?). My rubber arm was twisted and I went. Dinner turned into trekking to Itaewon and well the usual shit show insued. Beaker took off his pants, tried to light his feet on fire, tried to light Saejin's feet on fire, danced, danced, and fell asleep in the bar. Everyone had fun though but Beaker disappeared not sure what happened there. Perhaps he went home or got dragged to Hongdae..either way I got home and the sun was shining! I have a few questions. Who thought Jägermeister was a good idea? Did I play a game of pool with Linda? What happened to her anyway? Why was I wearing a really large red t-shirt when I got home?












This song is for you Beaker


To answer your question..yes Beaker, you were a Muppet Baby :)

I can officially get excited!

Today Jin walked into my class and handed me my plane ticket! I wish I was leaving today because I really need the vacation. I've had a good first year but I'm ready to get away from Seoul for a few weeks and step back into familiar English speaking territory. It's gonna be great! Can't escape thoughts of here entirely because we're planning a weekend get away for the first weekend in September. We're getting everything paid for and booked next week to ensure our spots. Where are we going? We're going to go o'l NK that's where! Adventure Korea offers weekend trips to a mountain area for hiking and other activities. Not many people can say they've experienced the North and I'm looking forward to it!!!

On another note I was checking out blogs today and I found one called Lonely Lifetime (check sidebar for link). The blog owner is trying to find homes for unwanted dogs/cats in Seoul. Also you can check out Dave's Dog House if you live in Seoul and are thinking of getting a pet. Why not save one instead of going to a pet shop? I would LOVE to get a dog but it would be so lonely because I'm never home until the evening :(

Lastly...does anyone out there watch The Sopranos?? I have a question. I am behind a bit and just started watching season 5. Can someone please tell me when the fawk did Janice and Bobby get married??? They went from flirting to married??? Did I miss something? I'm pretty sure I've watched every episode.

9 more sleeps! The countdown will continue I'm into single digits now :)

10 MORE SLEEPS TILL CANADA!!!

Been caught stealin once when I was 7..

Today I totally busted Kevin in my kindy class for stealing! I was shocked actually. I came back from lunch and I noticed something missing from my desk area. I don't like to think that my kindie kids would take stuff but I knew it was there before lunch. So I questioned the kids and I told them I knew it had to be one of them because it was there before lunchtime. They all shook their heads and said,"It wasn't me!"

I told them all to open their bags. Kevin was sort of hanging over his so I couldn't really see inside. I took his backpack and opened it. Sure enough it was in there. I sent him to the office and told him I was very disappointed in him. He came back later and all of the kids told him he was a theif (in Korean but I understood). I am not sure how to deal with him now..act like it didn't happen? Bring it up and tell the class how wrong it is? I hope the school called his mom and told her what he did.

Happy 4th to my American family members and friends! 11 more sleeps till Canada woohoo!!!

Insert own comments here..All I can come up with is why is this man standing on the street naked?




I did not take this photo and I can't remember where it came from but credit to the person who did take it

I don't think the next two weeks could possibly be any busier! I found out today we have telephone talk next week..so my Monday and Wednesday evenings will be really really busy. I also have to write 4 talking tests the kids will be taking while I'm away..I just finished writing lesson plans for the teacher who will be taking over for me and I need to get all of my things done for home. The time will definitely fly by until I go home. 12 more sleeps!

13 more sleeps until I leave for Canada. I can officially get excited because I can see the date on my calender. I haven't been this stoked for a trip since I went to Disney Land for the first time!

Elegantly Wasted

On Friday Rachel Lynn told me if I left Saejin's parent's restaurant completely hammered Saturday, she would have a good laugh, well I left there hammered alright! I just kept getting more hammered as the night went on. Dinner was good and Saejin has a lovely family, the raspberry wine stuff we were drinking though was dangerous. Saejin and I just kept drinking while RL, Cam, and Heidi sat back and watched.




When we left the three of them got in a cab and Saejin and I took our own cab. Good thing because they probably wouldn't have found half of the things that we found funny amusing in any way. We were all supposed to meet in Hongdae, which we did..but Saejin and I thought it would be a good idea to go to Tin Pan for one drink. I should have stopped drinking after that but did I? No I just kept on going...



We left to go meet everyone else at Indie bar but we got lost so RL had to come and get us. After that everything is a little blurry. I do know we went to Tin Pan 2 which actually is a super fun bar wonder why we never went there before. I think I tried to give everyone cd covers off the wall and I do remember RL broke her shoe. We left to go to another bar and I realized that I would not make it much farther so I got in a cab.









A word to the wise...when you are drunk don't ever think it is a good idea to let your friends bite your arm as hard as they can. The bruise can be nasty.

Happy 139th Birthday Canada!

Today is my wonderful country's 139th birthday. Being from the capital city of
Canada, Ottawa,
I am able to partake in the most awesome Canada Day celebrations in the entire country! However this year I will dream of the Canadian beer and sweet leaf that I am missing and sing the anthem to myself and smile! I'll see you in 15 days :) HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!

I could be here it is just a stone's throw from my house!!